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Subscribe to RSSTransportation Security Administration head John Pistole spoke at the National Press Club on airport screeners increasing focus on high risk passengers.
Airport screeners found 1,306 guns in carry-on bags last year, and passengers continue to try sneaking prohibited items onboard, hiding them in their shoes or using hollowed-out books.
John Pistole, the man in charge of the Transportation Security Administration, said the full-body scanners are catching much of the contraband. That includes ceramic knives, which don't show up on the metal detectors and, remarkably, "exotic pets strapped to a passenger's legs."
In nearly all these cases, he told the National Press Club on Monday, the passengers don't plan to use the weapons onboard the plane. "Very few have malicious intent," he said.
Courtesy TSA
A passenger bound for Antigua was stopped at a Newark Liberty International Airport checkpoint on Feb. 10 after TSA officers discovered a spear gun and utility knife in his carry-on, "Just to be clear, passengers should not attempt to bring a spear gun as a carry on item. The same rule holds for utility knifes," said TSA Spokesman Kawika Riley.
Courtesy TSA
A man was arrested at LaGuardia International Airport on Feb. 3 after TSA officers discovered that he had a baton with an 18-inch, double-edged dagger concealed inside that he was planning to bring onto the aircraft.
This weapon confiscated at Westchester County's White Plains Airport on Jan. 16 was determined to be a BB gun.
Courtesy TSA
A TSA officer spotted these two hand grenades inside a passenger's carry-on bag March 2 at Newark-Liberty International Airport. As it turns out, the grenades were determined to be inert replicas altered to be used as gearshift knobs on a car.
Courtesy TSA
This "gun" spotted in the X-ray machine at LaGuardia International Airport on Feb. 22 was actually a flashlight/lighter designed in the shape of a firearm.
Courtesy TSA
A TSA officer spotted what appeared to be a grenade in a passenger's carry-on bag at JFK International Aiprort on Feb. 23, but it turns out it was just a bottle of cologne. "You know what, it may have been cologne, but having something like that in your carry-on just stinks!" said TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.
Pistole said the TSA plans to continue expanding its Pre-Check program, which allows passengers who submit information about themselves in advance to get faster airport screening. They usually won't have to take off their shoes, for example, or remove laptop computers and liquids from carry-on bags. The program is underway at nine airports now, and TSA hopes to expand it to 45 by the end of the year.
TSA will soon begin allowing active duty military personnel who carry valid ID cards to get the same expedited treatment, beginning with departures at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C.
Pistole was asked today whether he has ever been patted down. "Oh, yes," he said. "I go through regular screening several times."
The most notable event, he said, came overseas during a recent trip.
"I was transiting through a well-known western European hub. I went through the walk-in metal detector. I knew I had no metal on me, but the alarm went off."
"I received a thorough pat-down. I complimented the security officer on the thoroughness of his pat-down. It made me stand up straight," he said.
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If you ever want to make them squirm, take a whole bunch of stacks of playing cards, wrap them in brown parcel paper into a few "bricks" and tie a cell phone to it. They will @!$%# their pants. That waxy cardboard comes up like a big blob on the x-ray scanner...
Yeah, no. Trolling the TSA IRL is just a good way to get locked up for a weekend while the authorities try to pin something on you. Trolling a tollbooth operator by paying in all pennies or paying with yen is one thing; all they can do is get hilariously angry. TSA agents have a nasty tendency to go on a power trip.
@Chris: Books, cards, anything that stacks and is rectangular shows up as a blob and almost always results in getting detained. I traveled with a stack of books bound together with twine (looks like wires) before, and they freaked out a little while looking at their x-ray machine until the person in charge actually had me open my carry-on, at which point the TSA people visible felt like idiots.
It's one thing to troll with look-alike things e.g. gun- and grenade-replicas (as pictured in the story), and another to merely have innocuous items that show up funny on the scanners. I've heard stories of taxidermy hobbyists that were detained for "skulls" in their bags.
Has anyone else noted that TSA always releases spectacular stats after they have a public relations nightmare? Recently, it was the mother who had to pump her breast milk and today it is "Look at what a good job we are doing!!"
And twice as many weapons weren't noticed. Two sides to every story!
Why would any rational adult want to "make them squirm"? They're trying to ensure that the millions that fly every year are safe.
Doesn't John Pistole (?), the man in charge of the Transportation Security Administration looks a little bit like a younger version of dirty old Harry Reid, Senator of NV and Democrats Senate Majority Leader?
I never liked the TSA's attitude at the airport, but respect their position. I only wish we could reasign Harry Reid as a TSA agent where he can do less harm to the knowledgeable taxpayers of Nevada and could then only irritate me for the brief time it takes to board an airplane!
Bill
frustrated Nevada Taxpayer
I guess I am the only one here who believes the TSA is trying to protect passengers. Some of you who want to make agents "squirm" by passing a fake bomb through a scanner should think twice and hope they do a good job when someone with a real bomb tries to board the same plane your son, your daughter, your brother, your sister, your mother or your father is on.
Or when the year is over and they have had time to compile and verify all of the data. Two months is a reasonable time to me.
This is just you justifying your hate. Hate less, live longer.
John williams nam vet, If they went undetected how do you know?
NYMike,
Quite an assumption on your part. I don't hate TSA. I just noticed that their last two or three public relations nightmares have been followed by "good" stats to show they are doing their job. On the other hand, you sound as if you must work for them.
Still, you don't have to hate them to be justified in questioning them, you should just be Citizen of our great country.
So, how is it that forcing a woman to pump her breast milk protecting the nation again?
A million internets to you USAF Vet! I was just thinking the same thing... they've in CYA mode!
The problem is they can't or won't act with any common sense. A mother with a breast pump and a few kids. They won't even find her a room to pump milk. There was a great article in the London Times. "Obituary of common sense." Because they have to rush people through and don't use common sense we have these situation were passengers are not treated as people with feelings. So if you don't mind being treat that way - fly. Remember to use common sense and treat people as you would want to be treated.
The next terrorist target will just be a TSA checkpoint.
Great idea Matt. They'll squirm for about 10 minutes and then you'll squirm for about 4 hours.
They can do whatever they want........I don't fly!!
here we go with the anti hating gun media trying to make it sound like guns are bad and illegial.what ever the media says to do ,do the oppisite and u will be better of for it.i for one could never own enough guns and dont need premission from the government to have them either or to carry them when and where ever i want.
Now what the heck did he mean by that??
Tell me and we will both know.
I stand behind my words. You took this article as a chance to say something negative about the TSA.
It's after the first of year and the final numbers form the previous year are now known. It isn't some tactic to make you feel good about them. Not everything printed is a scheme to misdirect you.
There is no possible way for the TSA to look good in most peoples eyes. Posting some "feel good" numbers as you are suggesting does nothing to change that.
As for assumptions, you are the pot calling the kettle black. You observed a couple past times and "assumed" it must be happening again. As well as stated I must work for them. Is that your tactic when others don't see something the same as you?
I do not work for them, but I do have enough common sense to know that a few months after the first of the year, companies, states and nations start releasing statistical data about the previous year(s).
Motz in KC, only the deluded think the federal government has any interest in protecting any part of the citizenry except their income (tax) stream.
If you think they care, just try to call your Senator and Congressman to let know how you feel. You won't get through to him or her; and likely, shortly thereafter the FBI will visit you as "a person of interest".
What you think is a model government is an illusion, perpetrated by persons beyond the reach of the criminal law.
1,306 guns found by TSA agents
And all of those guns were going to be used to commit acts of terrorism on our planes...
Those numbers broken down mean only around 20 guns per state were confiscated in the course an entire year. These really are not very big numbers and do not justify the existence of TSA.
And most likely would have been found by the security that was in place prior to TSA's existence!
Interesting juxtaposition in this article. I can't help but wonder how many of the guns were threats and how many were look-alike items (as more than half of the examples were).
NYMike,
In most peoples' eyes, they provide a service, but continue to make ridiculous calls.
Why release numbers if not to prove effectiveness? As with all departments in the US Government, they are answerable to the tax payers, Congress and the President and their budget depends on both politics and effectiveness. Releasing numbers should shows effectiveness.
Why are most people upset with TSA to a point that "there is no possible way for the TSA to look good in most peoples eyes?" Perhaps it is due to asinine procedural calls that do not make the country any safer.
Is it really that far of a reach for you?
The TSA was more than happy to throw around 1,306 as the number of "guns" confiscated last year, but the skeptic in me thinks that number is meant to mislead.
I guessing that the TSA must of had some bad press recently for this release! The headline says "guns" but notice that these items are not real, but toys or lookalikes. I guess the definition of guns has changed! Or is this another example of the media accepting a press release from the government without question.
In addition to the previously mentioned shift-knobs, purses, belt-buckles, and cologne bottles, the following were also confiscated last year as possible weapons: cupcakes, a toy lightsaber, tiny 4-inch plastic rifle from a G.I. Joe action figure, a pilot's butter knife, and the liquid-filled baby rattle belonging to a pilot's infant daughter. I wish I was just making it up, but my fantasies aren't that nonsensical.
If that's not crazy enough for you, they actually released an official statement defending the confiscation of the cupcakes.
Just further examples of why we are idiots to put up with this worthless agency..... SUCH A WAIST OF TIME, MONEY, & PERSONAL FREEDOMS.....
waste
Let's get rid of the Police department and the Fire Department because we don't need them until there is an emergency. I lost the freedom to run red lights or burn trash outdoors. Because of the TSA I can't take my homemade bang bangs (if I had any).
The TSA is clearly the biggest wasteful expendature in the USA's budget. How many terrorists have they caught? the answer - none.
The items listed are worth investigating, but found to not be what it was thought- a cigarette lighter gun- I wonder if they statistically count that as one of the firearms caught???
This agency is a bloated budget buster and only costs "US" more money to do the same damn thing we did 15 years ago with the same reasonable safety.
Because we really need to be fisted by a TSA agent to feel same? Whatever happen to pilots, air-marshals, and CHL blasting the terrorist straight to hell. Also the TSA will NEVER be equal to fire or police departments, at least those guys get @!$%# done.
Lawence, I agree with you totally. Btw, do you always talk baby-talk,or is your name really Lawence?
9-11 inside job
building 7 still the smoking gun
are u ready to wakeup yet folks
DaveM, Thank you! I knew someone would try to show how smart they are by stating that the TSA hasn't caught any terrorists. You know what, you're right! They haven't caught any. Gee, could that be because no terrorists have tried to get on any flights departing U.S. airports since the TSA started looking for them? I would also like to point out that no terrorists have hijacked or blown up any airliners departing U.S. airports since the TSA started checking.
Henry, You are saying the TSA "will NEVER be the equal to fire or police departments, at least those guys get @$%# done." Please, tell my how the TSA isn't getting their "@$%#" done? Let's see, the TSA's job is to make sure 9/11 doesn't happen again. So, how many 9/11 type incidents have occurred since the TSA started screening? Hmmmm, NONE! Seems to be they are doing just fine at stopping terrorists from getting on airliners departing U.S. airports.
puppet, love to see the conspiracy folks hanging around. The other day, the other day I was hanging out in this little bar in Culebra, with Jack Kennedy and Elvis and they were saying how they felt the conspiracy folks were keeping it real for the rest of us.
Puppet leader
It was an inside job.
You know too much.
Just ignore the black van outside your house. I'm sure it's nothing. ;)
lol some of these comments are the shiznitz
TSA = pathetic waste of Tax Dollars
How much money are we throwing at TSA and how many Terrorists have they captured since 9/11??
The real ? in everyone's minds tonight should be how many terrorists are already here thanks to the southern border being wide open 8(
The TSA's job is not to capture terrorists but to prevent terrorism, especially on airliners departing U.S. airports.
1,306 guns found by TSA agents at US airports in 2011.
Update: They missed 94,174
Chris, proof please.
Devil's son,chris was just spoofin' ya, it was really 94,175. God chris,give the devil a break,he used to be Jewish ya know!
if we don't want another 9/11 we need heightened security just don't let political correctness hurt the proses. if we could look and tell the bad guys from the good the proses would be easy,so we must except some inconvenience. obey the ruled but have a superior system for letting legitimate people transport weapons without fear of persecution
proses/PROCESS.....except/ACCEPT.....ruled/RULES....OK, that may be an honest typo. Obviously you work for the folks who can't tell shifter knobs and cologne bottles from live grenades. As for the remark:
" "You know what, it may have been cologne, but having something like that in your carry-on just stinks!" said TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. ".......only if you broke the bottle, Lisa, only if you broke the bottle.
Do you mean 'process'?
process
procedure
roses
How many Terrorists stopped at US airports? ZERO, why? A terrorists knows they can't gain access to a plane from within side US airports.
How many Americans have had their rights to privacy violated? Millions!! How many Americans have been part of a "unlawful search?" Millions... The average police officer cannot do what the TSA does on a hourly basis, that is place their hands on a person never suspected of anything. If the TSA wants to act like police officers, give them the proper training like a police officer goes through. Give them the sole authority to arrest anyone they see fit.
The more liberties Americans continue to give up, the terrorists win
Why is 'unlawful search' in quotes?
I honestly can't tell from 420 Frees the Mind's post whether they're for or against the TSA.
In any case, if their searches aren't unlawful, they should be.
This article is nothing more than spin control for the breast pump gaffe.....
Right on! I'm glad someone else thinks the same thing. In PR, you always have to have an ace up your sleeve or apply misdirection like magicians do.
I thought it was prestidigitation.....
almost feel sorry - that is kind of funny...
still waiting on the zombie apokolypse
Not quite sure what to make of that statement.
schwing!!!!!!!!!!
I know what I thought LMBOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lmao
thinking the same thing!!!
Does that have something to do with proctology?
What ever he meant, it will make for more jokes at the water cooler than guns found.
They forgot to mention that 1305 of these weapons were service weapons being worn by the uniformed police officers that back them up at the checkpoint. The other one was a bright green plastic water pistol being wielded by a highly suspicious 3 year old.
1,306 guns out of how many millions of travelers? Sounds like justification for the abuse of millions of people to me. How many were "terrorists"?
HAH! If we hadn't done something at the airports after 9/11 all you people bitchin about security would be bitchin about something ELSE! nyeh! nyeh! nyeh! Stick it in your CROTCH! YOUR rights to sound stupid haven't been trampled ON!
If we had allowed locked cockpits and armed pilots, there would have BEEN no 9/11. Fortunately for you, neither your right to sound stupid or act childish has been revoked.
I sure hope you knew more about medicine and nursing than you know about aircraft safety
They'd be bitchin about why our government wasn't doing enough to prevent more terrorist incidents!
Pistole, "complimented the security officer on the thoroughness of his pat-down. It made me stand up straight"... That's nice for him... Maybe dinner and a show afterwards?
Of course, not one of the weapons confiscated actually belonged to a terrorist. They were just being carried for personal protection by people who do not trust the TSA to stop terrorists. If you care to remember, not one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 were hijacked with a gun. They used box cutters. Even terrorists know guns are too easy to see in your carry on luggage. I wonder how many terrorists have flown through with non functioning explosives on their person.
by that logic (or lack thereof) think I'll bring a shotgun and Ak-47 on bard with me the next time. Just cannot trust those TSA folks to do their job.
oneiron: bard? Shakespeare? I just watched "the Taming of the Shrew",great picture.
I don't know about the rest of you, but if the people carrying those items weren't going to hijack the plane, I don't think the TSA's existence is justified. I also find it highly suspicious they released this data on the same day a story about them embarrassing a breast feeding mother comes out.
I would rather live with the risks of a free society than to be searched by my government every time I want to fly. There are no guarantees in life, and the TSA couldn't stop any terrorists anyway. If one of them stuck something up their bum, they can get past all scanners, so the number of terrorist attacks with the TSA is going to be the same as without.
I bet some of the weapons had
Koran verses
Suggest you stick to your studies. Someone is paying a lot of $$$ for you to blather on. Since there are no guarantees how about we call Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and tell him to stop police patrols around the U of C. Cops cannot protect you anyway.
oneiron, the U of Chicago is very unsafe even with the Chicago cops and the University's own police department on the scene. The University's own police force is the second largest in Illinois and the little rich brats get picked off left and right. I know a lot of people that lost their jobs there just so President Zimmer could pay for some decorative "safety" landscaping on land that doesn't even belong to the University.
Oneiron you are making some retarded arguments.
The police around UofC are not equivalent to TSA agents. They don't go around infringing on every bodies rights. They don't treat little children as terrorists. They aren't scanning every persons belongings and then detaining them for 4 hours if they see a breast pump on the scanner. The police for the most part do their job very well, and thus they give us hardly any trouble on a day to day basis.
So why don't you quit it with the logical fallacies? Is there a reason you are crusading for TSA agents with such asinine reasoning?
And not a single one intended to use for hijacking an airplane. An excellent use of resources.
Down with The TSA we will have it disbanded. Airports can now have private security forcess and not TSA. we will get the pediphiles out of power we will start peace and we will hav e the power the powers in control are scared we will make them @!$%# their selfs before its over
Want to thry that again--in English this time.
By the way, airport screening was done by the private sector before 9/11. That is why George II created the TSA
You're right; screening was a private-sector function. But . . . they were operating under restrictions imposed by the feds as to when and who and how they could query suspicious travelers.
Still, take notice of the weapons used by the 9-11 hijackers. And, take notice of the sheep-like behavior of the passengers, who had been conditioned by the feds to not react, since "self-defense is dangerous, and anti-social". Obedience to governmental mandates resulted in what, exactly?
It seems to me that government, being the root of most problems, is more dangerous to us than they want us to believe.
Maybe this is how Holders folks get the guns they sell to the Mexican Mob!
I thought the Murder Lobby was all FOR selling guns without regulation...
Toasty, the "murder lobby" is totally against the unregulated sale of firearms. It's spincter breath people like you,with no idea what the NRA is about,spouting off bul@@it that in your stupidity demean the people fighting for your second amendment rights that really make me think that your about as needful as a hickey on a hemorhoid.Your opinions are usless,because of your inability to read! God,and I thought from previous posts of yours that you may have a brain.I'll bet you voted for Taft!
Ban handguns. Keep your rifles for the well regulated militia.
Gee Bondy, I guess that's why the NRA always manages to oppose every common-sense law that comes up around guns...
Toasty; your comments will no longer be noticed by myself,nor hopefully any of the other 6 million members of the NRA. You are offically declared persona non grata.
Boo @!$%#ing hoo. The NRA has thwarted and opposed the democratic process too many times to deserve my respect.
Takenaka - I believe this is the second time I've seen you post something that is just plain wrong regarding guns. Banning handguns does nothing to prevent criminals from using them.
You seem to believe that if a Gun Law is enacted, that all people will follow them. If that were true, you'd never see anyone get pull over for running a red light. With your logic; since its against the law to run a red light, there's no way someone can do it.
I highly suggest you rethink your logic.
Did TSA make the person smoke a pack of cigarettes to prove it was a lighter?
I just hope they never find my penis pump! (aside to Austin "Danger" Powers)
1,300 guns found? Is that a surprise? With gun ownership rates so high and with the sense of entitlement to carry a sidearm or concealed weapon in some states being so strong, I am not surprised in the least except to say they should have found more than that.
America is armed and dangerous - lets face it.
CitizenEx - It should be. An armed society is a polite society. Peoples actions would be more polite if they knew they may be risking their life with rude and derogatory behavior.
America is heading towards social collapse - lets face it.
I applied for a job there so let me at least try for a paycheck. Please? I once got pulled out of line because I had a bible study book with picture of a mid eastern man on the cover. He was holding a lamb.
Any of those 'guns' happen to be real?
There is got to be a better way. But the TSA is too dumb to think of one.
If the TSA is "to (sic) dumb" please tell us your brilliant plan to thwart terrorism on U.S. airliners?
TSA agent: we understand lady you don't have no weapons..but your tit milking are not allowed either...now git!
I think that if you have been busted trying to bring guns, daggers, perfume bottles shaped like hand grenades you should never be alloyed in an airport again. Those people are some of the jerks that are keeping the TSA around. How many terrorists have been stopped by the TSA? That would be none. How many dumbasses? At least 1,300 and a bunch of drunks.
But there's no law against being a dumbass. ( I hope. )
So basically, the headline is simply a lie. No actual guns cited in the article. Very poor journalism.
The headline isn't a lie, and it's not poor journalism. They are merely pointing out other stupid things that can catch the attention of TSA agents. If you want to see pictures of 1,306 guns, you should try Cabela's or Gander Mountain websites.